Jan

30

Lawmakers Consider Law to Limit Lead

Filed Under Articles, Toy Safety | Comments Off

According to an article published by the New York Times today, Lawmakers are “tsk tsk”-ing Mattel for not “doing the right thing”. In November it was reported by Consumer Reports that an arm band in a toy medical kit contains “higher than anticipated” amounts of lead. Mattel decided against a nationwide recall of the toy.

The company said that its tests of the cuffs found “higher than anticipated” levels of lead, but added that the toy met American and European standards. The lead hazard was present only in the red and green version of the blood-pressure cuffs.  A Mattel spokeswoman said she did not know exactly how many toys were affected, but it was in the “order of magnitude of thousands.”

On Tuesday, dozens of Congress members signed and sent a letter to the chief executive of Mattel indicating their disappointment that Mattel isn’t living up to their promise:

The letter, signed by 56 members of Congress, quoted Mattel’s chief executive, Robert A. Eckert, as saying in September that the company “will do the right thing.”“We challenge you to live up to your words,” it said, “and set a standard for the entire industry by completely eliminating the use of lead in all the children’s products manufactured by Mattel.”

I find it shocking that lead is used AT ALL in children’s toys. It’s kind of sickening to hear what a company will do to make a buck at the expense of children’s safety.

Jan

28

Green Mama Baby Steps with Envirosax

Filed Under Eco-Mama, Product Reviews | 2 Comments

envirosaxPart of being a “Safe Mama” for me means improving my family’s quality of life as well as making more efforts to protect our environment with a few small changes. I’m not fully green by any stretch… I’m more of a turquoise or mint green at this point but I am trying to make small changes that can help the earth. First it was my switch from plastic water bottles. Next step was plastic bags.

In a recent article, the New York Times reported that Whole Foods Market chains are going to stop offering plastic bags and instead provide customers with either recycled paper bags or reusable bags as an alternative. I really like this move by Whole Foods and I hope it continues and spreads to more grocery chains and super stores.

For the holidays a friend and Safe Mama contributor gifted me with a set of Envirosax. I’ve been putting them to good use and I fully admit I love them. They are big enough to fit a ton of items and the material is waterproof and super lightweight. They have the ability to be rolled up tiny but I just jam all the bags into one and leave them in the trunk for my next outing. The best part, they are stylish as well as functional.

I just discovered they have a line of organic bamboo and linen sets too. I’ve seen them available is a few places like Amazon and the Wishing Fish. I might have to start scouring for the organic line… they look gorgeous. I do what I can, and at least this way, I look cool doing my part.

Jan

24

Interview with BornFree President Ron Vigdor

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Interviews | 4 Comments

bornfreeI recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ron Vigdor, President of BornFree, LLC, who are the makers and distributors of the BornFree baby bottles and drinking cups popping up in stores such as Babies R Us, CVS and Whole Foods. BornFree’s products are all Bisphenol-A, phthalates and PVC free, right down to the higest quality medical grade silicone bottle nipples. They have taken great care in providing consumers with a safe alternative that is of the highest possible quality.

How did BornFree get started? Mr. Vigdor stated, “Several years ago, I was running an e-commerce business with my partners - my brother, Dan and our friend Gil Lemel - when we were approached with the idea of bringing BPA-Free baby bottles to a mass market. Being fathers ourselves (currently of eight children total and one on the way!) we became extremely concerned about the safety of our children, and all children, when we learned about the potentially dangerous effects of BPA-infused plastics. We realized that we could give society something worthwhile - a safe solution to feeding our children – while creating a business model. The bridge from e-commerce to baby bottles was intuitive because of our interest in how technology interacts with our daily lives and mass market.

Over the course of two years, we have expanded our business from one that started in my home, to one with distribution in Whole Foods, Babies R US, and other brick and mortar stores across the country as well as many online resellers – a growth driven by the increasing demand by parents for safe feeding options for their children. We’re now looking to grow from the BornFree™ Feeding System of baby bottles, sterilizers and training cups to a larger product line that promotes a BornFree™ lifestyle.”

Having read varying information about the plastic BornFree uses to make their bottles and drinking cups, I asked him about Polyamide, the material once used in their product line. “We’re using polymers such as PES (Polyethersulfone) which has a stronger resistance to heat so it will withstand microwaving and sterilization without any issues.”

I’ve gotten numerous emails from parents saying “This is all just a ploy to get people to spend more money.” I know my stance on that claim but I wondered what Mr. Vigdor would say to a skeptic parent. So I asked… Mr. Vigdor says, “I understand the concerns parents have about expenses. I have two kids myself and know how bottles, clothes, diapers, food all add up. The truth is that our BPA-Free bottles are just more expensive to produce. We hope this always isn’t the case, but for now, like most new technology, it is. I know it is sometimes overwhelming to know what the right thing to do for your child is. It has been shown that people most affected by BPA exposure are unborn infants and children under the age of three. So, if at all possible, why take that chance? Here is a range of products that are a safe alternative, made of the highest quality materials and we’re putting it out there as an option. It’s up to the parent to make the decision.”

As for plans to expand their product lines to other baby items he says, “We can clearly see through the past scares, that parents worry about unsafe toxins in much more than just bottles. In six months we plan to add products to all areas of baby care; from dishware and pacifiers to breast pumps and eating utensils. Eventually, we will have products like toys and clothes. BornFree™ is all about safety for our kids and for the environment. We shouldn’t limit that to just bottles.”

BornFree products are available at Babies R Us, CVS, Whole Foods and hopefully in other online retailers very soon. I’ve said this 100 times but it’s nice to see companies like BornFree sharing shelf space with the products I now look at with a jaded eye. I hope one day we can walk the aisles of baby items and not worry about what is lurking behind the plastic, but until then, we have some solice in products like BornFree who’s first priority is the safety of our children.

Jan

23

Thomas the Train Paying $30 Million for Lead

Filed Under Articles, Product Recalls, Toy Safety | 2 Comments

The popular toymaker responsible for the lovable Thomas the Train wooden toy line is settling the class action lawsuit over the lead paint recall fiasco last year at the bargain price of $30 Million plus a nice little $2.9 Million in legal fees.

RC2’s (RCRC) proposed settlement received preliminary approval in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., Tuesday. It calls for reimbursements for hundreds of thousands of consumers and improved product safety, which RC2 says it has implemented.

Consumers would be reimbursed in cash for recalled toys or offered a replacement plus a bonus toy if they prefer. Customers who lack toys and proof of purchase can get $15 coupons.

Source: USA Today

Jan

22

Congress Investigates BPA in Baby Formula Cans

Filed Under Articles, Bisphenol-A, Product Safety | 1 Comment

Just when I started to feel like we were all doomed to just avoid BPA like the plague for all eternity and that big companies and the government could care less about what consumers want, a ray of light:

A congressional committee is launching an investigation into the use and safety of a chemical found in many children’s and infant products, including the lining of liquid infant formula cans.

It’s something. It’s better than nothing and I hope this trend continues and that our concerns are taken seriously and the research done by groups like the EWG is taken seriously too.

“There is concern in the scientific community that this chemical, bisphenol A, may be harmful both to adults and children,” Dingell said in a statement. “It would seem obvious that we would try to protect babies and infants from chemicals that may be considered dangerous to adults.”

Now if only the formula companies would stop hiding behind the FDA we’ll be in better shape. Mommy Off The Record got a letter from Similac recently and I, too, wrote to the makers of Enfamil and received a nice form letter back thanking me for my concern but assuring me I have nothing to worry my pretty little head over. I wonder if I’ll see the day that the formula companies are eating their words with a heaping spoonful of Bisphenol-A.

Jan

21

Baby Cubes: BPA & Phthalates Free Food Storage for Baby

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Reviews | 2 Comments

babycubesMany of us try our best to reduce the amount of unneeded plastic in our homes. But sometimes you just have to use it and in that case you want plastic that is free of Bisphenol-a, phthalates and any other potentially yucky things that can leech into your child’s food. A Safe Mama reader emailed to ask about a product she found on One Step Ahead called Baby Cubes. Baby Cubes properly store and freeze fresh home made Baby purees in handy containers. They come in sets of 8 and sit neatly on a organizing storage try that are stackable, to save room in the freezer. Our lovely reader wanted to know if Baby Cubes were safe and non-toxic. I did a little searching and found the company website. According to the company, Petite Creations, Baby Cubes are free of phthalates and Bisphenol-a and is made of safe polypropylene plastic:

The Baby Cubes are made of a non toxic Polypropylene Virgin raw material We do not even accept Recycled Polypropylene in the fabrication of The Baby Cubes It must be of a Virgin Raw Polypropylene so that we can be certain of the highest quality.

Petite Creations say they are microwave and dishwasher safe. I think it’s probably smart to avoid microwaving anything in any type of plastic to eliminate any possible problems, but for storing and freezing these look like a nice solution. Baby Cubes are available at One Step Ahead for $6.95 if you buy two.

Jan

19

IKEA Kids rainbow cups & utensils BPA Free

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Reviews | 14 Comments

IKEAI have no idea where I heard this originally but a friend of mine (Hi, Mariana!) picked up a set of cups and plates for me at her local IKEA. The product line is an IKEA exclusive designed by Monika Mulder and they carry rainbow sets of kids cups, plates, bowls and eating utensils. The dishware is made of polypropylene (a #5 on the recycling scale) and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Polypropylene is a Bisphenol-A free plastic and has no known leeching chemical components. They are light weight and the perfect size for little hands. My 2 year old loves the little cups and since I’m trying my hardest to teach him to use a regular non-sippy cup without turning it into a launching device for milk and water… it makes using it easy for his tiny grip.

They come in packs of 6 and cost a measly $1.99 per pack. I don’t have access to an IKEA nearby but I might have to make a pilgrimage to one to get the bowls too. They are not, unfortunately available online so you have to hike out to the store to find them. You can check them out here.

Jan

18

Review: Two Foogos in one.

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, Product Reviews | 3 Comments

thermosfoogo2For most of my son’s table food life, I’ve been pretty much devout about making my own food. He started on the plain old Gerber organics, but it was short lived. Yes, it’s convenient, but it’s also expensive, and, not only did I want my son to have diverse eating tastes and a love for food in general, but I wanted to see before my own eyes what was going into that food. That said, whenever we went out, I caved to convenience. It’s kind of hard to carry homemade baby food around with you, when you’re out all day long, but I still preferred for him to have homemade. So when I found out that Foogo was coming out with a food container, I was ecstatic. It was the first of the Foogo line that I purchased, and I fell instantly in love with it. If you’ve already read Kathy’s review on the Foogo sippy, you’ll know how sturdy they are. The inside holds plenty of food (10 ounces) if you have a babe on purees or a young toddler. I was surprised at how much space is in this thing. I can fit two meals for my son in here. I don’t have to compromise for convenience anymore. I love it.

Now, the straw bottle. I purchased this before I actually purchased the sippy. We had been using the Born Free sippys, which are nowhere near leak proof. My son wasn’t really ever keen on the valves in conventional sippy cups. I’m sure it had a lot to do with age, but if he had to work too hard to get liquid out of his cup, I could pretty much guarantee it would be a dry diaper kind of day. Rather than put up a fight over the whole thing, I knew that he was able to get liquid out of a straw and I thought since he had learned, that he would be all over it. Not so much. He had forgotten how to use the straw, and promptly pushed this “thing” out of his way, and was over it within two seconds flat. That said, while he may not be ready for this yet, this is still a really great bottle for toddlers. The straw is made of silicone, which takes a better beating against chewing toddlers, and is built right into the lid, another nice feature. It’s two parts, both of which are dishwasher safe.

Now onto the age old question: Does It Leak? Well, it’s a straw bottle, not a sippy, so yes, when the lid is open, and you turn it upside down, it will leak all over. The pressure release is right on the lid, and while it says leak proof on Thermos’s site, when the lid is snapped shut, it still does leak minimally if the lid is closed and you turn it upside down or on its side. Which is why I would recommend this for older toddlers. This is a much better choice when left in the up right position.

I’m definitely saving this for when my son is older, but after that failed experiment, I finally bit the bullet and bought a Foogo sippy, which surprisingly, valve and all, my son took to like a duck to water. Maybe he was ready, maybe he’s attracted to the shiny, I don’t know, but I do know that even despite the weight of it, he’s actually picking it up himself and drinking more water. I agree with Kathy, the world should love this sippy.

Of course, all of these products are available in both pink and blue (sorry, the food container only comes in blue) at our favorite site, The Soft Landing. We’re pimps, we admit it, but we’re pimps for a good cause, keeping babies safe.

Jan

17

FAQ: Nuby Products, Which Ones Are Safe?

Filed Under Bisphenol-A, FAQ, Product Safety | 2 Comments

NubyI’ve gotten a lot of frenzied emails from parents asking about how to tell which Nuby bottles and sippies are in the BPA Free zone. Nuby (Luv n’ Care subsidiary) has a wide range of products. Some are made with BPA Free plastic and some are not. Unfortunately since labeling this on products isn’t yet a requirement it’s overwhelming to discern which are which. Many times companies such as this aren’t as forthcoming with this information in fear of creating a distrust in the safety of their products.

Alicia of The Soft Landing, bless her researching little tuchus, has spoken to the company to find out once and for all what products are PVC, BPA and Phthalate Free. Here is what she says in her blog article:

Nuby, a subsidiary of Luv ‘n Care, is among several companies that offer BPA free bottles, sippys and teethers more by accident than on purpose. Their naming system is utterly confusing, so that many BPA free items sound just like others that do contain BPA. Because they are a foreign company, I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt on their naming system.

She has also posted photos of Nuby’s BPA Free products including bottles, cups, teethers, spoons, teethers and other feeding items made by Nuby, so you can easily check to see which ones you have or which ones to buy if you are looking for products.

Jan

17

SafeMama on Motherhood Uncensored

Filed Under SafeMama Press | Comments Off

If you missed me on Motherhood Uncensored tonight you can check it out here. Kristen was a lovely host and we covered a lot of information. I forgot to mention our coupon code so graciously offered by The Soft Landing in the bustle of interviewing. I can’t multi-task! So, have a listen to the show and count how many times we collectively say “nipples”. Clue: It’s a lot thanks to Cristina from Green Mom Finds. Send me your guess (safemama at gmail.com) and I’ll reply with your coupon code good for a freebie worth $4.95 with a $20 purchase at The Soft Landing. The first reader to answer correctly will also get a free mystery gift (it’ll be a BPA Free gift) from Safe Mama to sweeten the deal.

Stuff we mentioned:
Green Mom Finds - great site for all things green and eco-friendly
The Soft Landing - Takes the stress out of non-toxic shopping
CleanWell - Natural and safe soaps and sanitizers
BornFree - BPA Free Bottles and Cups
EWG Report on BPA in Baby Formula

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